India
Full service airline, Indira Gandhi hub Air India baggage allowance
Air India is the flag carrier of India and a Star Alliance member, now owned by the Tata Group and undergoing a major fleet and brand transformation that has unified Vistara and Air India Express under the Maharaja brand.
| Allowance | Economy | Business and First |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on bagPlus one personal item under the seat | 7 kg55 x 40 x 20 cm | 10 kg55 x 40 x 20 cm |
| Checked bagMaximum weight per bag | 23 kgUp to 158 cm | 32 kgUp to 158 cm |
Cabin baggage
What you keep with you on board. The carry-on bag goes in the overhead bin, the personal item goes under the seat in front of you.
Carry-on bag
- Size
- 55 x 40 x 20 cm
- Weight
- 7 kg
- Pieces
- One bag
7 kg for Economy; 10 kg for Business/First. One cabin bag rule applies on flights originating from India (BCAS directive, 2025).
Personal item
- Size
- 40 x 30 x 20 cm
- Weight
- Included in carry-on allowance
- Examples
- One personal item such as laptop bag or handbag, in addition to the cabin bag.
Liquids: containers of 100 ml or less, all inside one transparent resealable 1 litre bag. Baby food, medication and sealed duty free purchases are exempt.
Power banks and batteries
Lithium batteries travel in the cabin, never in the hold. Since 2025 most carriers also ban using or charging a power bank during the flight.
| Item | Cabin | Checked | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power bankAny capacity | Allowed | Not allowed | Air India accepts power banks in the cabin only, never in a checked bag. |
| Self balancing deviceHoverboard, electric skateboard | Not allowed | Not allowed | Air India bans lithium powered self balancing devices from the cabin. |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 7 | Not allowed | Not allowed | Banned outright, in either kind of baggage. |
Checked baggage
Air India counts kilograms and sets them by fare brand inside each cabin, which catches people out: Premium Economy Value carries 15 kg, the same as the cheapest Economy fare, while Economy Flex carries 25. Whatever your total, no single piece may weigh more than 32 kg anywhere on the network.
| Cabin | First bag | Second bag | Max weight per bag | Max size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | Included | Included | 23 kg | 158 cm |
| Business | Included | Included | 32 kg | 158 cm |
| First | Included | Included | 32 kg | 158 cm |
Economy: Combined dimensions of both pieces must not exceed 273 cm. Excess piece USD 50-340 by route.
Business: Domestic Business allowance 25-35 kg by fare; excess piece charged by route.
First: Domestic First allowance 40 kg; international 2 pieces of 32 kg each. Allowances change by route, fare family and booking date, so confirm on the official Air India baggage page before you pack.
Checked weight by fare, domestic
Air India sells weight by brand within each cabin, so the cabin alone does not tell you the allowance: Premium Economy Value carries the same 15 kg as the cheapest Economy fare.
| Economy Value | 15 kg | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy Classic | 20 kg | |
| Economy Flex | 25 kg | |
| Premium Economy Value | 15 kg | |
| Premium Economy Flex | 25 kg | |
| Business Value | 30 kg | |
| Business Flex | 40 kg | |
| First | 40 kg |
These are domestic flights. International allowances are set per region and are higher: Sri Lanka runs 30 to 45 kg, Bangladesh and Myanmar 30 to 40, Nepal and the Maldives 20 to 40. On a single ticket mixing domestic and international sectors, the international allowance applies to the whole journey. No single piece may weigh over 32 kg anywhere on the network, or measure over 158 cm. None of this covers Air India Express or codeshare flights, see status extras.
Excess baggage fees
What sits outside the weight your fare brand includes.
| Situation | What you pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single piece over 32 kg | Not accepted | Across the whole Air India network |
| Piece over 158 cm total | Oversize charge | Length plus breadth plus height |
| Infant not occupying a seat | 10 to 15 kg | 10 kg Economy, 12 kg Premium Economy, 15 kg Business and First |
| Star Alliance Gold in Economy | 20 kg more | On top of the fare allowance |
These allowances cover Air India operated flights. Air India Express is a separate airline with its own rules, and a codeshare follows whoever markets the flight, so a single booking can mix the two.
Before you pack
Six habits that keep you out of the excess baggage queue.
- Weigh bags at homeA luggage scale costs less than a single overweight bag fee, and it settles the argument at home rather than at the counter.
- Prepay extra weight onlineBuying through airindia.com is 10 to 20 percent cheaper than paying at the counter.
- Wear the heavy itemsBoots, coats and jackets on your body do not count toward any limit.
- Use compression bagsVacuum bags cut clothing volume by up to 75 percent, which helps with the 158 cm size rule.
- Check your credit card perksSome premium cards include extra baggage or refund fees on selected airlines.
- Use your Maharaja Club statusStar Alliance Gold members get 20 kg extra on top of the fare allowance, see status extras.
Maharaja Club status extras
Frequent flyer status adds to the fare allowance. The extra applies to the member only, on Air India operated flights.
| Tier | Weight concept routes | Piece concept routes | Also included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maharaja Club member | None | None | Fare allowance only |
| Maharaja Club Silver | Extra allowance | None | On Air India operated flights only |
| Maharaja Club Gold and Platinum | Extra allowance | None | Star Alliance Gold, so it applies on partner flights too |
| Star Alliance Gold | +20 kg | None | In Economy |
Sports equipment, instruments and infants
Special items travel with conditions. Every one of them needs advance reservation, and acceptance at the airport is not guaranteed without it.
| Item | Conditions |
|---|---|
| Sports equipment | Accepted as checked baggage within standard piece/weight allowance; oversize or overweight items charged at applicable excess rates. |
| Musical instruments | Small instruments allowed in cabin if within carry-on limits; larger instruments require an extra purchased seat or checked baggage. |
| Infant baggage | Infants under 2 receive an additional 10 kg checked baggage allowance plus a collapsible stroller free of charge. |
Book special items online before travel. Airport prices are higher than the same allowance bought online, and hold space is first come, first served.
Check-in and bag drop deadlines
Counted back from scheduled departure. Miss the bag drop cut-off and the bag does not fly, even if you do.
Air India sets its check-in and bag drop deadlines by airport rather than publishing one timeline. Check the times on your booking, and allow longer if you have bags to drop.
If your bag does not arrive
Delayed and damaged bags follow a strict clock. Most claims fail because the report was made after leaving the airport.
Report before you leave the hall
Go to the Air India baggage services desk in the arrivals baggage hall. You get a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) with a 10 character reference. Without it there is no claim.
Track with the PIR reference
Use the reference and your surname on the Air India baggage tracing page. Most delayed bags arrive within 48 hours and are delivered to your address free of charge.
Track a bagKeep receipts, mind the deadlines
Essentials bought while the bag is missing can be claimed. Damage must be reported within 7 days, delayed bag expenses within 21 days of delivery, under the Montreal Convention.
How Air India compares
Benchmark these limits against the rest of the industry before you decide which bag to bring.
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